Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is historically significant for many reasons: it was the first Star Wars movie in nearly 16 years, the last Star Wars movie shot on film, and a polarizing, pulpy entry in the storied space fantasy franchise. It debuted on May 19, 1999, 25 years ago almost to the day, and earned over $1 billion at the box office, despite mostly mediocre reviews.
Its legacy is an interesting one: One of its characters, Jar-Jar Binks, was so detested that the actor who portrayed him, Ahmed Best, faced what he told The Hollywood Reporter was “the first textbook case of cyberbullying.” Several racially insensitive aliens featured in the film remain a mark on the series to this day. The dialogue is weak and often incredibly grating.
Yet its late-stage lightsaber battle is the stuff of legends, its production and costume design is intricate and beautiful, and the infamous podrace scene is exhilarating. It is a Star Wars movie full of contradictions, so when my partner asked if I wanted to go see The Phantom Menace at our local Alamo Drafthouse, I jumped at the chance.
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But despite all that is cringe and problematic in The Phantom Menace, watching it in theaters instilled in me a newfound sense of respect for the film.
I think it’s a generational thing. Most/many older Star Wars fans (such as myself) who were already adults when the prequels came out hated them from the get-go.
I recall being the reaction being pretty much this:
https://youtu.be/zJlgpozN31s?si=GH7G1NF-_3Wlh-IK
I mean, I saw all the re-releases, and my dad saw all the originals when they came out, and he loved the PM. NH Luke was cringe af for the two-thirds of the movie.
Sure, the acting and dialogue in Start Wars were always dodgy, but at least in ANH you had a solid retelling of The Hero’s Journey and the charm of practical effects. tPM was just a big, bloated, incoherent, CGI-ridden mess with only a couple of good actions scenes thrown in.
Political intrigue just like Andore! I mean people love that one and it’s just a guy being a giant dickhole for 12 episodes. Pet the damn droid. Not everything needs to be the hero’s journey.
I get it but when PM came out it was some serious business. Although nobody hates Star Wars more than a Star Wars fan…as long as we can agree, the sequel trilogy is bullshit.
That right there is fighting talk.
Oh, indeed.